NADA's Automotive Career Month Kicks Off Next Week

Students to Explore Auto Careers in New Car & Truck Dealerships Nationwide

McLean, Va., March 29; 2007; Students across the U.S. will learn about the wide variety of career opportunities available in automobile and truck dealerships during Automotive Career Month in April -- an initiative sponsored by the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).

Young people participating in Automotive Career Month will receive a "behind-the-scenes" tour of a new-car or truck dealership in their community to see first-hand how the business works in all areas of its operation. During the event, they will have an opportunity to interact directly with dealership employees.

"Dealerships offer a wide variety of rewarding positions, and this is the ideal opportunity for both students and parents to explore a rewarding career path they may not have considered," said Dale Willey, NADA chairman and a new-car dealer in Kansas. "Many dealerships have good jobs for good pay available, and they're actively seeking the next generation of workers."

More than 104,000 positions are available at 20,000 new-car and truck dealerships nationwide, according to a recent survey by Harris Interactive, sponsored by the industry group Automotive Retailing Today. Positions with strong growth potential are available in all areas of dealership operations.

The auto sales business is the largest retail industry in the U.S., employing more than 1.1 million people. Thousands of additional qualified professionals are needed through the next decade alone.

  Positions with high-income potential can be found in such fields as:

  -- Sales
  -- Auto Technicians
  -- Finance
  -- Marketing
  -- Management
  -- Administration
  -- Design
  -- Internet Services
  -- Communications

The National Automobile Dealers Association, founded in 1917 and based in McLean, VA, represents approximately 20,000 franchised new car and truck dealers with nearly 43,000 separate franchises, domestic and import.